Greetings!

In this months issue of the Tips newsletter Marilyn Morris continues her discussion of contraception and STDs. If you missed last months newsletter focusing on contraception and teen pregnancy click here to read the June 2011 newsletter.

Facing the Facts

By Marilyn Morris, Founder/President

Aim For Success, Inc.

I could hear my phone ringing as I entered my office. I hurried to answer it and was greeted by a young lady who said:

I want to thank you for the work you're doing at Aim For Success. You see my school provided a different approach to sex education than your programs. My community believed the assumption that all teenagers are having sex. Therefore, starting in 9^th grade our teachers drilled it in our heads that we must ALWAYS use condoms when we have sex. Of course, that was followed by condom demonstrations. As a result, it never crossed my mind that perhaps I should consider postponing sexual activity. Instead, I prided myself in the fact that I ALWAYS insisted my sexual partners use condoms.

Unfortunately, I learned the hard way that even with correct and consistent use, STDs can still occur. Perhaps my teachers mentioned that possibility, but that's not what I was hearing. The phrase that stuck in my mind was, "To prevent STDs and pregnancies, always use condoms." I took my teachers at their word and assumed if I ALWAYS used condoms I would be safe.

Now I know the truth. Correct and consistent condom use can reduce the risk of pregnancies and STDs, but that's certainly a long way from guaranteeing protection. You see, somewhere along the way through my various sexual escapades, I contracted HPV - the most common STD among American teenagers. As a result, I'm now struggling with cervical cancer. I'm 26-years-old. I've never been married and tomorrow I'm having a hysterectomy. From this point forward, every time I get in a serious relationship, I will need to determine the right time to explain the fact that I am unable to have children - something that didn't seem to be a big deal ... until now.

About the STD Epidemic

More than 65 million Americans are living with an incurable STD. The Centers for Disease Control estimates that each year about 19 million new STDs occur; half are to young people ages 15 to 24. One in four sexually active teenagers gets an STD every year. The most common STDs such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, HPV and HIV/AIDS can lead to discharge, pain, warts, blisters, ectopic pregnancies, infertility problems, infected baby, cancer and death.

How Safe are Condoms?

Many people believe the way to prevent STDs is to always use condoms. But as the previous true story illustrated, condoms reduce the risks when they are used consistently and correctly. They don't guarantee protection. In fact, the estimated risk reduction offered by consistent condom use for HPV is at best only 70% and for HIV 80%. Risk reduction estimates for gonorrhea and chlamydia are 50% and herpes 30%.

Those at Greatest Risk

Teenage girls need to understand they have a far greater risk of contracting STDs than teenage boys and adults. The primary reason is because the cervix (the opening to the uterus) of a teenage girl and young woman is not fully developed and won't be until she reaches her mid twenties. As a result, sexually active teenage girls and younger women tend to be far more susceptible to STDs.

It's also important to note the younger a person is when he or she begins to engage in sexual activity the more partners that person will tend to have. The more partners the greater the risks of STDs, even multiple STDs at the same time.

Another important fact to understand is that condoms only protect the area covered by the condom. Therefore, STDs that spread on the skin, such as HPV and herpes, can spread to areas not protected by the condom.

What Aim For Success Teaches

In our student programs, we ask the young people what they can do to guarantee protection from STDs. About 95% of the time, we get the same answer. Like clockwork, the students are quick to shout out, "Use a condom!" It's as if their brains have been hardwired to believe the only way to prevent STDs is to use a condom.

The information in our programs help students understand that while condoms can reduce the risks of STDs - they do not guarantee protection. The only way to guarantee protection is to save sex for a lifelong committed relationship. Two people faithfully committed to each other for life do not worry about STDs. In America we've tended to call that type of relationship - marriage.

Does that mean sexually active students should not use condoms? No! Some protection, whether it's 30% or 80% is far better than no protection. But students should never be misled to believe condoms will make sex safe.

Good News

The good news is most teenagers aren't dealing with these issues at all, because most American teenagers have not had sex! We could not have made that statement 20 years ago, but we can say it today. And the number of teens who have NOT had sex is higher today than it was ten years ago. The point is more and more teenagers are grasping the reality that choosing to avoid sexual activity right now provides freedom from pregnancies and STDs while empowering them to fulfill their dreams and goals for tomorrow!

References:

Ahmed S, et al. 2001. AIDS.

CDC. 2011. Chlamydia Fact Sheet.

Martin, E. et al. 2009. Arch Internal Medicine.

National Institute of Health Workshop Summary 2001.

Warner L, et al. 2006. Sexually Transmitted Diseases.

Weller SC. 2007. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

Winer RL, et al. 2006. New England J Medicine.